Key takeaways
- Talvey is prescribed to certain adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. It’s given as an injection under the skin by a healthcare professional.
- Talvey treatment includes step-up doses, starting with a low dosage that gradually increases. After, maintenance doses are given weekly or every two weeks.
- Your doctor will monitor you after step-up doses due to possible side effects like cytokine release syndrome and neurologic damage.
Talvey is used in adults to treat relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. It’s used after completion of at least four other treatments. These include:
The active ingredient in Talvey is talquetamab-tgvs. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) Talvey belongs to a group of drugs called bispecific antibodies, which is a type of immunotherapy.
This article describes the dosages of Talvey, as well as its strengths and how it’s given.
The information below describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended for Talvey. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
Talvey form
Talvey is available as a liquid solution that you receive as an injection under your skin.
Talvey strengths
Talvey comes in two strengths:
- 3 milligrams per 1.5 milliliters (2 mg/mL)
- 40 mg/mL
Talvey treatment for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma begins with a low dosage that is increased gradually and given more often. This is called step-up dosing. By beginning with lower doses, your doctor can see how your body reacts to Talvey.
After the step-up doses and first treatment dose, you’ll receive maintenance treatment with Talvey. This helps manage your condition. You receive maintenance doses either weekly or every 2 weeks.
The tables below show Talvey’s dosage for treating relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. All doses are in milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) and are based on your weight in kg. For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds (lb).
Step-up doses and then treatment doses weekly
| Day | Dose type | Dose | Example: dose for person weighing 90 kg (about 198 lb) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | step-up dose 1 | 0.01 mg/kg | 0.9 mg |
| 4 | step-up dose 2 | 0.06 mg/kg | 5.4 mg |
| 7 | first treatment dose | 0.4 mg/kg | 36 mg |
| — | maintenance treatment doses | 0.4 mg/kg once per week | 36 mg |
Step-up doses and then treatment doses every 2 weeks
| Day | Dose type | Dose | Example: dose for person weighing 90 kg (about 198 lb) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | step-up dose 1 | 0.01 mg/kg | 0.9 mg |
| 4 | step-up dose 2 | 0.06 mg/kg | 5.4 mg |
| 7 | step-up dose 3 | 0.4 mg/kg | 36 mg |
| 10 | first treatment dose | 0.8 mg/kg | 72 mg |
| — | maintenance treatment doses | 0.8 mg/kg once every 2 weeks | 72 mg |
If you have questions about your dosage of Talvey, talk with your doctor.
Is Talvey used long term?
Yes, Talvey is usually used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that it’s safe and effective for your condition, you’ll likely use it long term.
Before your Talvey injections, you’ll receive pretreatment medications to lower your risk of serious side effects. Typically you’ll receive these 1 to 3 hours before your injection. Pretreatment medications include:
- a corticosteroid (dexamethasone)
- a fever reducer such as acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- an antihistamine such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
You’ll receive injections of Talvey under your skin. A specially trained healthcare professional will inject your Talvey doses. You’ll receive them in a facility approved by the risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) program.
You’ll likely need to stay in the hospital for 48 hours after receiving each step-up dose. This is due to the risks of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and serious neurologic damage. These are boxed warnings of Talvey. If you experience these side effects, your doctor will pause or permanently stop Talvey treatment. They’ll manage and treat the side effects as needed. For more information, see the “Boxed warnings” section.
If you have questions about how you’ll receive Talvey, talk with your doctor.
If you miss an appointment to receive a dose of Talvey, call your doctor’s office as soon as possible to reschedule. They can inject your missed dose and get you back on track with your dosing schedule.
If you miss more than one dose, or if it’s been a while since your last dose, your doctor may need to restart Talvey treatment at a lower dose. This helps lower the risk of serious side effects like CRS or serious neurologic damage.
If you need help remembering your appointments, try setting an alarm or downloading a reminder app on your phone.
Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about Talvey’s dosage.
Is Talvey’s dosage similar to the dosages of Tecvayli?
The forms of both drugs and how they work are similar. Talvey (talquetamab-tgvs) and Tecvayli (teclistamab-cqyv) both are biologic medications made from living cells. And both are used to treat multiple myeloma. A healthcare professional administers the drugs by injecting them under the skin.
The dose in milligrams of each drug differs. But the dosage of both drugs is based on your body weight and uses a step-up dosing schedule.
Your doctor will prescribe the drug and the dosage that’s right for you. To learn more about how these drugs compare, talk with your doctor.
How long does it take for Talvey to start working?
In studies, Talvey started working about 1 month after treatment began.
How quickly it works depends on the severity of your condition and how you respond to Talvey. Your doctor will monitor you during treatment to check whether the drug is working for your condition.
If you have other questions about what to expect from your Talvey treatment, talk with your doctor.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.